As I stand under the graying shade of the moon, watching the glistering light of the stars. I wonder, how beautiful this one in a million nights is. How I wish I could keep it locked inside a locket closest to my heart's deep.
A shutter click was heard right at my back. I pause in surprise. Then a familiar voice enthusiastically uttered "smile!". I turned my back and faced the owner of the voice I recognized. Stared for a minute, though his face is a little dim. "Can I be spared with a little smile?" He asked with a soft chuckle. Unprepared, I gave him a short yet genuine smile. But surprisingly, his fingertip is a quick-clicking thing that automatically captured the scene. I turned my back at him, and once more faced the scenery I momentarily left. I felt a mild touch of the night's cooling breeze that swift through my pores. I flinched for a second. "The night's deepening. Do you want to take a rest?" he asked. "I will in a moment" I answered.
We are now gazing at the same night view in the very same place. "Isn't it beautiful?" I asked. "It is" he answered in a soft and low voice. This man is not a stranger, but this feeling makes him an intruder, an uninvited guest that made me feel unease. "The night sky is always lovely, but tonight is extraordinarily beautiful" he added, and I can feel his sharp stare. However, I set those thoughts aside. It shouldn't be, this is not right. "Do you know that staring at those celestial lights above comforts me?" I asked out of nowhere just to divert the topic and set off a new vibe. "Nope" he answered plainly, "would you mind telling me?" while looking back at those magnificent lights above. "Because it makes me feel that whatever distance there is and wherever we may be, as long as we're staring the same celestial lights at night we are never truly apart". I know it may not sound interesting saying those words, but deep down, those are just the right words I long wanted to say. "Distance is just a number to count how far we are from one another, but our memories together measure how close we are to each other" he uttered with a soft husking voice. "But those memories are tainted and slowly vanishing, I no longer know how to keep them" I added.
Memories flashed back like a film in an old camera rolling individually. It was painful, very painful like a dagger stabbed right into the perfect spot in my chest. Unwarranted, my tear suddenly dropped. I turned my face away from his sight, wiped it gently, and stood more steady. This time, it won't hurt the same way. "I am sorry," he said. "You shouldn't be, neither of us is at fault. Our choices didn't just lead to each other" I answered. "Don't worry I'll heal in no time" I added. "Don't worry I have kept the same wound you have", "You have a big heart, I am pretty sure, someone else will come and fill in the space I left" he added with a voice trying to comfort a child, but my heart is severely bruised, still uncertain when to heal, if it will ever be. I gave him a quick fainted smile. "There's no more space, you've occupied them all, and it went with you when you left" I answered with a shaky voice. "But don't worry, someone else will build its own space in it. I hope so" I added. "I'm speechless, it'd be hypocrisy to comfort you at this point" he uttered in dismay. "You are not speechless, you just had all the thoughts mixed up that you couldn't find the right words to say," I said trying to cheer up the vibe, but I guess I failed.
Seconds have passed and we are still standing just outside the main hall, in the hallway that led to the gazebo at the end of the path. "Go back into the party, it'll be improper for a groom to be spotted with his ex" I sarcastically said, just trying to shoo him away, because I feel like I'll breakdown any moment. He gave me a consoling look and a genuine smile of empathy. And he walked away. We never said goodbyes even back then, because we don't want to. We never broke up, we just chose to continue with a different path separately. And that same path led us to where we are tonight.
This night is not the best night, but it is arguably memorable. I don't want to forget this night. It may be the first step towards healing, just maybe.
(c) photo: Farmer's Almanac
Hello there readers! It has been a while since I posted my previous article. Appointments' flooding my busy sched, hope you understand.
Here's the explanation why I can't write so much as of the moment https://read.cash/@Amare/post-ef3fdbd2
Keep safe everyone!
Really good story.................... I mean you are really good. I like how you express the emotions behind it.........................